New Unsolved Mysteries Segment!

[mozartpc27]

(A bit of fun. If I used your name and you're not happy, let me know, but it's all fun, just remember that)

<Imagine a video camera running over images of our lovely message board, first in long view, perhaps so we can see the screen scroll through various threads, then in closer up shots that move over thread titles and usernames, giving us a picture of a vibrant, thriving community. >

<Imagine also “cute little community” Unsolved Mysteries music, with the music and video playing as Robert Stack narration begins>

Stack:

The Unsolved Mysteries message board on SitcomsOnline.com is like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. It is a small, tightly-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else. When something happens to one of their own, the repercussions are felt throughout the message board.

<Imagine video of Mastermind sitting at a keyboard, typing furiously away. The music darkens.>

The poster Mastermind was one of the most visible members of this community. He was, by all accounts, an active and prominent participant in board affairs, having made over 1,800 posts on the message board.

On Thursday, June 24, 2010, at 3:23 in the afternoon, Mastermind made a post about the Danny Gordon UFO sightings and his subsequent claims of harassment. He has not been seen since.

<Cut to video of an investigator>

Originally Posted by mozartpc27

It’s hard for us to reach any firm conclusions. There is nothing to indicate foul play, and nothing to indicate to anyone that he was planning to leave. In all my years as a message board investigator, this is truly one of the most baffling cases I’ve ever come across.

<Cut to video of MegtheEgg>

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg

I’ll tell you one thing: Mastermind would not have left without telling somebody, without saying something to somebody. I know that. I know that in my heart.

<Music holds on one of those “mysterious chords” or notes UM uses for a minute, as the camera lingers on Megthe Egg for a few seconds after she stops talking. Then we fade to Robert Stack, walking up to a tree.>

Stack:

On the surface, June 24th was like any other day on the Unsolved Mysteries board on SitcomsOnline. Mastermind, always a visible member of the community, was seen posting twice earlier that day.

<Stack puts his hand on the tree for support>

But when investigators looked deeper, they discovered that something had changed in the pattern of Mastermind’s usage in the two days leading up to his disappearance. The investigation has become a bitter point of contention for the people who post on the Unsolved Mysteries Message board. While many posters have chosen to accept the official findings of the police, incredibly, there are those who think that Mastermind’s disappearance is just the surface of a case that features corruption at the highest levels of government, drug trafficking, and murder.

<Cut back to grainy video of Mastermind in front of the computer>

After Mastermind’s disappearance, investigators quickly discovered that he had made two more posts on the day he disappeared: one at 1:14PM, and another at 1:27PM, both in a thread about missing persons profiled on Unsolved Mysteries and whether they are currently dead or alive. This turned out to be a red flag for investigators.

Originally Posted by Corky Kneivel

When we looked back, we discovered that it was actually pretty unusual for Mastermind to make only three appearances on the board in one day. That in fact, he was usually posting much earlier than the mid-afternoon, which is when he made his first posts on the day he disappeared. That signaled to us that he was probably withdrawing a little bit from the day-to-day activities of the message board.

<Cut to video of the message board itself, probably osme Mastermind posts>

Stack:
Indeed, between June 1st and June 22nd, he averaged over 6 posts a day. But on June 23rd, Mastermind made just two posts, and on the day he disappeared, just 3.

<Cut to video of an investigator>

Originally Posted by mozartpc27

Looking back to the week before he disappeared, Mastermind made only one post on June 18th, and no posts at all on the 19th or 20th. So it seemed to us like there was a lot of fluctuation in his activity, and that made us wonder if perhaps he wasn’t preparing to leave the community on his own.

<Cut to vide of Mastermind busily typing at the computer>

Stack:

Investigators further pursued that possibility, and soon made a startling discovery: Mastermind had previously attempted to stage his disappearance from the message board, just four months prior to vanishing from the board in late June.

<Continue to show video of Mastermind typing his good-byes, packing a suitcase, registering for other forums, etc.>

Originally Posted by mozartpc27

In the course of our investigation, we discovered that Mastermind had made an attempt to disappear before, in February of 2010, but at that time he reappeared just 8 days later for a few posts, and then re-appeared permanently just 20 days later, before disappearing again in June. This led us to believe that Mastermind was fully capable of… pardon the expression… masterminding his own disappearance.

Stack:

But if Mastermind had engineered his own disappearance, one question lingered: why?

<Cut to video of another investigator>

Originally Posted by Corky Kneivel

We had gotten some information to the effect that Mastermind might have moved on to another online community, and might be posting under a different name. We continue to look into that possibility, but, at this time, we haven’t been able to verify that theory one way or another. We just don’t know.

<Cut to video of community member>

Originally Posted by rhzunam

It’s my feeling… and this is strictly just my opinion… but it’s my feeling that he was running from something.

<Cut to video of Masterming puttering around doing something or other>

Originally Posted by rhzunam

Mastermind… he was a loner. That avatar, that said it all. He said hello and participated in threads and even engaged in debates, but, at heart, he was a guy who marched to his own drummer. I think he got spooked by something – maybe something from his past, maybe someone around here he didn’t like, or maybe he just got bored of being here. Whatever the reason, I believe he did this on his own. He was just the kind of person who never liked to get too comfortable in one place.

<Cut to video of another community member>

Stack (voice over leading into comments from community member):


Not everyone on the Sitcoms Online Unsolved Mysteries message board agrees.

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

A better question is, “Who did Mastermind get into trouble with?”

<Cut to grainy video of Mastermind meeting with mysterious figures who look semi-official, in suits and such.>

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

Now this is an interesting case. What I want to know is why the drug angle was never explored. Mastermind had a lot of connections in law enforcement and with organized crime, and he knew their secrets. The DA down there is very corrupt… he has been investigated on corruption charges multiple times. I could easily see drug kingpins or organized crime elements wanting to see him rubbed out, and the politics in that town is so corrupt. I really think Mastermind just found out something he wasn’t supposed to find out.

<Cut to video of community member>

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Somebody out there knows something. There’s no way that whoever is responsible for this hasn’t talked to somebody. A friend, a relative, a spouse… somebody. The only way this case will ever be solved is if people come forward and tell what they know.

<crystaldawn wipes away a tear>

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Somebody out there needs to listen to their conscience and come forward.

<Cut to video of MegtheEgg>

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg

Mastermind would have told somebody if he were planning to go. He loved the kids – that ‘s what he called the other posters – too much to have run off like that. I’m sure something happened to him. Maybe he’s being held somewhere, maybe he’s dead... We just want him back, that’s all. Wherever he is, we just want him back.

<Cut to video of Stack>

Stack:

While the investigators we spoke with still favored the theory that Mastermind had left of his own volition, several members of the community have pointed out that, prior to disappearing in February, Mastermind made sure to make a farewell post. In June, he did not.

If you have any information that could help solve this case, please contact the Sitcoms Online Unsolved Mysteries Message Board Moderator, or call our toll-free number

<Cut to video of the UM toll-free number>

Stack:

1-800-876-5353

[MegtheEgg86]

Bravo, mozart. I was laughing so hard in the next room my boyfriend thought I'd gone crazy.

[mozartpc27]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

Bravo, mozart. I was laughing so hard in the next room my boyfriend thought I'd gone crazy.

Now new and improved (I included something I forgot to include the first time)!!!!!

[MegtheEgg86]

Maybe we're all victims of missing time--we'll all come back to find Mastermind has posted multiple times wanting to know where everyone else is.

[Oooga Chucka]

Glorious. I hope to see an update soon.

[Corky Kneivel]

This is gold Jerry, gold. Absolutely brilliant.

I am thrilled to pieces that I'm an investigator! And I even got to say the best phrase investigators say: "*brief pause*...we just don't know"

[Gelatinous Goo]

Originally Posted by Corky Kneivel

This is gold Jerry, gold. Absolutely brilliant.

I'm just having the soup; I'll save the meal for later!

[Oooga Chucka]

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Goo

I'm just having the soup; I'll save the meal for later!

What's with the Ovaltine jokes??

[Gelatinous Goo]

Originally Posted by Oooga Chucka

What's with the Ovaltine jokes??

They should call it "Roundtine"!

[Apostapler]

I think I'm in love. This was magical.

[sdb4884]

You forgot to mention how the forum reminded Stack of A Norman Rockwell painting!

[MissFit29]

[Guardian]

Ha!